Men's Swimming and Diving
Brehmer, Jacob
Jacob Brehmer
- Title:
- Diving Coach
- Email:
- jacob.brehmer@bsu.edu
- Phone:
- 765-285-5141
A familiar face will be returning to the Ball State swimming & diving coaching staff for the 2021-22 season, as head coach J. Agnew has named Jacob Brehmer the program’s diving coach.
Brehmer most recently served as the interim diving coach for the Cardinals in 2020-21, earning Mid-American Conference Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honors after a breakthrough performance from the diving corps at the MAC Championships.
“Jacob did a tremendous job mentoring our divers last season in an interim capacity, and we are excited to welcome him back to our family as the full-time diving coach,” Agnew said. “In a season unlike any other, his passion for the sport and tireless work ethic resonated with our student-athletes and helped them compete at an elite level. A former Ball State diver himself, Jacob knows what it takes to excel in the MAC and he will have our divers in a position to succeed every time out.”
However, that was one of many contributions Brehmer has made at Ball State, starting with a spectacular career of his own on the boards. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals from 2010-14 and ranks second on the 3-meter board (356.18) and third on the 1-meter board (329.10) in program history. As a senior in 2013-14, he became Ball State’s first male diver to qualify for NCAA Zone Championships in seven years.
“In my time as both an athlete and coach at Ball State, I have made so many great memories and met so many great people, that being able to come back and help contribute to the success of this program is an honor and a privilege,” Brehmer said. “J. Agnew, Chris Bals, and Geena Freriks have done such an amazing job making improvements to this program and I am excited to keep working with them.”
With Brehmer’s help in 2020-21, junior diver Hunter Ongay was crowned the MAC Champion on the 3-meter board, giving Ball State its first MAC men’s diving champion since 1998. Ongay became just the fifth diver in program history to earn MAC Diver of the Year honors after also placing second on the 1-meter board. Freshman Isaac Hunter was also impressive at the league meet, earning MAC Freshman Diver of the Year honors.
On the women’s side, Brehmer coached senior diver Caitlin Locante back to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, as well as to program records on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. Overall, all six of Ball State’s divers (three men and three women) who competed at the MAC Championships last season scored points for the Cardinals.
“Our divers faced a lot of adversity last year with the COVID-19 pandemic and a coaching change, but they persevered and had an amazing year,” Brehmer added. “I am very grateful to J. Agnew for this opportunity, and I can't wait to see what this team does in the future. This team is like a family, and I am thankful to be a part of it.”
Prior to last season, Brehmer served as a volunteer assistant for the Cardinals from 2015-17. He helped four divers advance to the NCAA Zone Championships and helped mentor Rachel Bertram to a bronze medal at the 2017 MAC Championships. BSU’s divers also registered seven top 10 performances in the Ball State record book over that time.
During the 2019 season, Brehmer was the head diving coach at Franklin Middle School in Indianapolis, guiding the program to an undefeated season. One diver also broke a program record which had stood since 1997.
Brehmer earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Ball State in the spring of 2014, and his master’s degree in biology in 2017.
Brehmer most recently served as the interim diving coach for the Cardinals in 2020-21, earning Mid-American Conference Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honors after a breakthrough performance from the diving corps at the MAC Championships.
“Jacob did a tremendous job mentoring our divers last season in an interim capacity, and we are excited to welcome him back to our family as the full-time diving coach,” Agnew said. “In a season unlike any other, his passion for the sport and tireless work ethic resonated with our student-athletes and helped them compete at an elite level. A former Ball State diver himself, Jacob knows what it takes to excel in the MAC and he will have our divers in a position to succeed every time out.”
However, that was one of many contributions Brehmer has made at Ball State, starting with a spectacular career of his own on the boards. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals from 2010-14 and ranks second on the 3-meter board (356.18) and third on the 1-meter board (329.10) in program history. As a senior in 2013-14, he became Ball State’s first male diver to qualify for NCAA Zone Championships in seven years.
“In my time as both an athlete and coach at Ball State, I have made so many great memories and met so many great people, that being able to come back and help contribute to the success of this program is an honor and a privilege,” Brehmer said. “J. Agnew, Chris Bals, and Geena Freriks have done such an amazing job making improvements to this program and I am excited to keep working with them.”
With Brehmer’s help in 2020-21, junior diver Hunter Ongay was crowned the MAC Champion on the 3-meter board, giving Ball State its first MAC men’s diving champion since 1998. Ongay became just the fifth diver in program history to earn MAC Diver of the Year honors after also placing second on the 1-meter board. Freshman Isaac Hunter was also impressive at the league meet, earning MAC Freshman Diver of the Year honors.
On the women’s side, Brehmer coached senior diver Caitlin Locante back to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, as well as to program records on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. Overall, all six of Ball State’s divers (three men and three women) who competed at the MAC Championships last season scored points for the Cardinals.
“Our divers faced a lot of adversity last year with the COVID-19 pandemic and a coaching change, but they persevered and had an amazing year,” Brehmer added. “I am very grateful to J. Agnew for this opportunity, and I can't wait to see what this team does in the future. This team is like a family, and I am thankful to be a part of it.”
Prior to last season, Brehmer served as a volunteer assistant for the Cardinals from 2015-17. He helped four divers advance to the NCAA Zone Championships and helped mentor Rachel Bertram to a bronze medal at the 2017 MAC Championships. BSU’s divers also registered seven top 10 performances in the Ball State record book over that time.
During the 2019 season, Brehmer was the head diving coach at Franklin Middle School in Indianapolis, guiding the program to an undefeated season. One diver also broke a program record which had stood since 1997.
Brehmer earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Ball State in the spring of 2014, and his master’s degree in biology in 2017.
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